Display stand



March 17, '1936. W. E PLEN 2,034,116

DISPLAY STAND Filed Nov. 22, 1954 2 sheets-S1961 1 INVENTOR.

/I///l'am f. Ferien wmp@ ' ATTORNEY 17, 1936.. w.E. PAI-EN v 034316 DISPLAY STAND UWENTOR.

- ATTORNEYS.

FiledNoV. 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE DISPLAY STAND Application November 22, 1934, Serial No. 754,226

Claims.

My invention relates to an improved display stand or rack particularly adapted to be used in the display of packages of ower or garden seed.

An object is to provide a display stand or rack 5 for such purpose which is adapted to carry a large number of seed packages and to display the same in such a manner that they are always in plain View and attractively presented and regardless of the number of packages contained at any time 10, upon the stand.

Another object is to provide such a stand which is of light weight, simple and inexpensive in its construction, and is adapted to be readily set up to receiveseed packages or to be disassembled and 15, packed for shipping, and which includes as a part thereof structural means adaptable for use as a carton within which the remaining portion of the `stand may be packed for shipment.

A feature of substantial importance is the provision of a novel type of tray for the display of the seed packages which is capable of use as a container for the return oi unsold packages and wherein the legs which support the stand may also be packed for shipping and which tray furthermore includes a structural element designed to be used as a carton within which the tray and the contained parts above specified may be packed for shipment.

The tray is so formed as to receive a false bottom and this false bottom is so formed as to be capable of use as the carton within which to pack the tray. The false bottom itself is of novel construction being preferably formed from a single pieceV of cardboard or other suitable material so shaped as to be capable of being folded to serve the purpose of a false bottom for the tray or a shipping carton for the tray.

A Vtray may be so formed as to include a novel type of shelf construction to display the seed packages which is of light weight, inexpensive and readily adapted for assembly and disassembly.

Other objects, advantages and meritorious features of my improved structure will more fully appear from the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a display stand embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the stand shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the detachable legs,

Fig. 4 is a plan of the blank which is used as a shipping cart-on and as a false bottom for the stand,

Fig. 5 is a perspective oi the blank partly folded,

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the blank completely folded,

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view through the tray showing the stand packed for shipping,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the tray,

Fig. 9 is a plan of the wire frame which forms a support for the tray shelves, and

Fig. 10 is a perspective of one of the shelf elements.

In the seed industry it is common practice for the seed houses to furnish iiower and garden seeds in small envelopes to their dealers upon commission. At the end of the season the unsold packages of seed are checked and returned to the seed house. The seed house also furnishes display stands for the seeds. These stands may be returned or thrown away. If thrown away the seeds are packed in suitable cartons for return.

My improved stand is of a character which is adapted to be returned after use, or at least the major portion of it may be returned, and it is adapted to serve during its return as a container for the returned packages of seed.

In the drawings my improved stand is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in position for use to display seed packages. In these figures of the drawings the stand is illustrated as consisting merely of a single tray supported upon suitable detachable legs. The tray is indicated generally as 20 and the legs as 22. It is obvious that a succession of such trays might be provided one superimposing the other. The legs are adapted to be detachably articulated with the ends of the tray as shown in my copending application through the provision of bolts 24 having thumb nuts 26 and. preferably permanently secured to the legs. The head of the bolt is receivable through a keyhole opening 28 in the ends 3l) of the tray.

The tray comprises a frame having ends 30 and front and rear sides 32 and 3d respectively. The tray is so supported by the legs that it slopes upwardly rearwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The seed packages are indicated as 36. The bottom of the tray is formed to provide a plurality of shelves. These shelves are so construct- 45 ed and relatively arranged as to provide, from iront to rear of the tray, an ascending succession of stepped trough-like shelves within which the seed packages are disposed. Each shelf has a bottom wall which slopes downwardly from front to rear and a rear Wall which slopes rearwardly from bottom to top so that the seed envelopes are advantageously and plainly displayedv to view.

This bottom portion of the tray may be formed as shown in Fig. 7, and as is specically described g5 form the'succession of shelves 38 indicated in Fig. '7. Front and rear flanges are provided on the sheet which are secured to the front and rear sides 32 and 34, respectively, of the tray. Bottom flanges 4U are provided which are secured to the ends 3U of the tray frame as shown. This particular structure is set forth and claimed in my copending application.

A modified form of construction is that shown in Figs. 8, 9, and l wherein a wire frame structure is illustrated which comprises two series of parallel spaced apart cross wires. One series indicated as l2 extends from end to end of the tray. The other series indicated as 44 extends from front to rear. These wires are secured together at their crossing points. They form a rectangular mesh open work structure as shown in Figs. 8 and- 9. This structure may be secured by staples 46 to the front and rear sides of the tray frame as illustrated in Fig. 8.

There is then provided a plurality of spaced apart angularly bent Wires 48 which are secured to and supported by the wire mesh structure above described and which extend as shown in Fig. 8 from front to rear thereunderneath and form a succession of V-shaped pockets. Such a plurality of vthese supporting wires may be utilized as is deemed necessary. In Fig. 9 four of such wires are indicated at points of attachment to the cross wire mesh work.

There is then provided a series of trough-like shelves formed of suitable sheet material such as cardboard and one of which is indicated as 58 in Fig. 10. Each shelf may be formed of a single piece of cardboard having a long leg and a short leg as shown and is adapted to be received upon the angular supporting wires 48 as indicated in Fig. 8 and held snugly toward the wire mesh structure which carries the supporting wires as shown in such figure and these troughlike elements constitute the shelves of the stand. It will be noted that the long leg of one troughlike element overlaps the short leg of the adjacent element and that when the stand is in position the shelves are so disposed that the bottom wall of each shelf slopes downwardly from front to rear and the back wall slopes upwardly from bottom to top.

This shelf structure constitutes the bottom of the tray and is so arranged Within the tray frame, which frame is formed of ends 3B and sides 32 and 34 that a space is provided within the tray below such bottom structure. This space is closed by a false bottom indicated generally as 5I. This false bottom is formed of sheet Inaterial folded as hereinafter described and is detachable as shown. The sheet material which forms the false bottom may be of cardboard or some suitable material. It is preferably in the form of a single blank as shown in Fig. 4.

In this figure it will be noted that such blank comprises a bottom portion 52 having end flaps 54. These end flaps have flanges or tabs 56. There is also provided side flaps 58. A score line 60 encircles the bottom portion dividing the same from the flap portions so that they may be folded along such score line. The iiap portions 58 are each scored along the line S2 to be folded along such line. The structure is provided with a lengthwise score line 64 valong which it may also be folded. The flaps are adapted to be folded over upon the bottom portion to form the folded structure shown in Fig. 5. This structure is then adapted to be folded along the line 64 to form the flat folded structure shown in Fig. 6. The structure is folded in Fig. 6 and is then adapted to be received within the recesses of the tray frame below the shelves as shown in Fig. 8. It fits snugly 5 therein and one end of it rests upon the sloping side 34 of the tray frame and nails or other securing devices 68 may be employed to hold it securely in place. It covers the shelf structure and forms a neat bottom for the tray which is 10 readily detachable for other use.

When this bottom element is removed it can be unfolded to the position shown in Fig. 4. In this position it is adapted to receive the tray and to be folded about the tray as shown in Fig. 7. When so folded it forms a container for the tray. The legs 22 may be received within the space shown in the lower right hand corner of the vieW in Fig. 7 or may be received within the shelves as shown in the upper portion of Fig. 7. The unsold seed packages may be placed in the shelves and the entire structure is therefore made ready for shipment.

What I claim is:

1. In a display stand, a tray comprising a frame 25 having a bottom shaped to provide a plurality of shelves arranged in successively stepped relationship and a cardboard blank having a bottom portion provided with oppositely disposed end flaps and oppositely disposed side flaps, said flaps adapted to be folded over the bottom portion, said flaps and bottom portion adapted to be folded to bring said flaps together between opposite halves of the bottom portion and in such folded relationship adapted to be received within the frame underneath the shelves forming a false bottom for the tray, said blank also adapted to be folded completely about said tray forming a complete enclosure therefor.

2. In a display stand, a tray comprising a frame and a bottom shaped to form a plurality of trough-like shelves arranged in partially overlapping relationship with one another and providing a space within the frame underneath said shelves, a unitary blank of relatively stiff material comprising a rectangular bottom portion having a flap extension on each side adapted to be folded over the bottom portion, said bottom portion adapted to be folded upon itself enclosing the flaps and thus folded to be received within 5o said space within the frame underneath the shelves to form a false bottom for the tray, said bottom portion of the blank adapted when unfolded to cover the bottom of the tray, said flap extensions adapted to cover the sides of the tray and the top thereof.

3. In a display stand, a tray comprising a frame having a plurality of shelves arranged therein spaced from the bottom edge of the frame providing a recess therebelow, a unitary cardboard blank having a bottom portion adapted to cover the bottom of the tray and a series of flap extensions adapted to be folded over the sides and over the top of the tray, said blank provided with crease lines forming the lines of fold of the flaps to cover the sides and top of the tray, said blank adapted to be folded upon itself along said crease lines to bring the flaps in position over the bottom portion, said flaps and bottom portion adapted to be folded to bring the flaps together with the bottom portion folded upon itself and thus folded adapted to be snugly received Within the recess below the shelves within the frame to form a false bottom for said shelves.

4. In a display stand, a tray comprising a frame having side walls and end walls and a bottom formed of a series of parallel spaced apart wires extending across the tray between its ends and a second series of parallel spaced apart wires extending across the tray between its sides crossing the wires of the first series and secured thereto and a third series of V-shaped supporting wires depending below said rst and second series and carried thereby, and a plurality of trough-like members formed of sheet material supported upon said V-shaped wires forming shelves within the tray.

5. In a display stand, a tray comprising a frame having side walls and end walls and a bottom formed by a series of V-shaped wire supports carried by and depending from a series of crossed wires, and trough shaped elements mounted upon the wire supports underneath said crossed wires forming shelves.

6. In a display stand, a tray comprising a frame having side walls and end walls and a bottom formed by a series of independently detachable trough shaped elements arranged therein in partially overlapping relationship to form a plurality of shelves stepped successively upwardly from front to rear of the tray, a Wire structure supporting said shelves and comprising a series of parallel spaced apart wires extending over the top of the shelves from front to rear of the tray, a second series of parallel spaced apart wires eX- tending transversely across the tray between its side Walls and along the upper margins of said shelves and crossing the first series of wires, and means securing said shelves in place underneath said crossed series of wires for support thereby.

7. In a display stand, a tray having a bottom formed of a plurality of crossed wires secured to'- gether forming an open work structure of substantially rectangular mesh and supporting wires carried by and depending below said open mesh structure, and trough-like elements L-shaped in cross section carried by said supporting wires and held thereby snugly against said open mesh structure forming shelves therebelow.

8. In a display stand, a tray having a bottom formed of a plurality of crossed wires secured together forming an open work structure of substantially rectangular mesh and L-shaped supporting wires having one long leg and one short leg carried by and depending below said open mesh structure with the short leg of each supporting wire secured to the long leg of the adjacent supporting wire, and trough-like elements L- shaped in cross section carried by said supporting Wires and held thereby snugly against said open mesh structure forming shelves therebelow, each trough-like element having one long leg and a short leg, said elements being arranged in a succession wherein the long leg of one element overlaps the short leg of an adjacent element.

9. A display stand having front and rear end walls and side walls, a series of parallel spaced apart wires extending across the tray from front to rear between said end walls, a second series of parallel spaced apart wires extending transversely across the tray between its side walls and forming with the rst series of wires an open work structure of rectangular mesh, a series of parallel wire supports depending below and carried by said first two series of wires, and a series of trough shaped shelf elements carried on said supporting wires underneath said two series of parallel wires, one of said series of parallel wires extending from front to rear of the tray over said shelf elements dividing them into pockets.

10. A display stand having front and rear end walls and side walls, a series of parallel spaced apart wires extending across the tray from front to rear between said end walls, a second series of parallel spaced apart Wires extending transversely across the tray between its side walls and forming with the rst series of wires an open work structure of rectangular mesh, a series of L-shaped supports each having one long leg and one short leg carried by and depending below said tWo first mentioned series of wires with the short leg of each supporting wire secured to the long leg of the supporting wire immediately in front, trough shaped shelf elements carried upon said supporting wires underneath said two rst mentioned series of wires, each shelf element having a high back wall resting upon the long legs of the supporting wires and a bottom wall resting upon the short legs of the supporting arms.

WILLIAM E. PALEN. 

